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exorcism

exorcism

67 8.9
A ceremony to make an evil spirit leave a person or place
  • noun
  • /ˈɛksɔˌrɪzəm/
translation icon : exorcismo
  • The priest performed an exorcism to expel the evil spirit from the haunted house.
  • exorcism of demons
  • exorcism of spirits
  • spirit possession and exorcism

Of course, I'd love to do an exorcism on Aaron Rodgers.

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Examples

  • A priest was delegated to perform the sacrament for the exorcism of evil spirits.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Dr. Adani, why do you think Emily's exorcism failed?

  • If this comes down to an exorcism, we're in big trouble.

  • What makes you think a Catholic exorcism would work.

  • What rites of the exorcism do you know?

  • I've never been part of an exorcism, nor do I expect to be.

  • I have a text on exorcism by Father Marin.

  • There are certain Christian sects that have historically practiced exorcism and continue to practice it today.

    Blog text (12)
  • Desperate to cure her daughter, Chris gambles and has Regan undergo an exorcism.

    Academic text (2014)
  • One participant recalled witnessing an exorcism by a curandero.

    Academic text (1995)

Synonyms

purgation
vsexorcism
  • Formal
9.9

An act that uses a ritual to clean a person or place

is a ritual focused specifically on driving out an evil spirit

Surface Forms

exorcism singular
exorcisms plural

Morphology

exorcism = exorcise (transparent) = exorcise + ism

Derived by standard nominalization from the verb 'exorcise' with '-ism' indicating the act or practice.

Etymology

Exorcism comes from old words meaning 'to drive out' and contains the prefix ex- meaning 'out', like in exit. So an exorcism is a ritual that tries to make an evil spirit 'leave', which explains why it is used to drive spirits out of a person or place.